diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index ae01878..c31f09b 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -233,6 +233,14 @@
 
 AS_IF([test "x$enable_sensor_monitor" == "xyes"], [
 
+    AC_ARG_VAR(SENSOR_MONITOR_PERSIST_ROOT_PATH,
+               [Root path for persisting sensor monitor data])
+    AS_IF([test "x$SENSOR_MONITOR_PERSIST_ROOT_PATH" == "x"],
+          [SENSOR_MONITOR_PERSIST_ROOT_PATH="/var/lib/phosphor-fan-presence/sensor-monitor"])
+    AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([SENSOR_MONITOR_PERSIST_ROOT_PATH],
+                       ["$SENSOR_MONITOR_PERSIST_ROOT_PATH"],
+                       [Root path for persisting sensor monitor data])
+
     #Default hard shutdown delay is 23 seconds
     AC_ARG_VAR(SHUTDOWN_ALARM_HARD_SHUTDOWN_DELAY_MS,
             [Milliseconds to delay the alarm hard shutdown])